How To Set Up A Mailbox Post

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If you live in a home with a mailbox post, chances are that you'll somewhen need to replace it. Although it might seem difficult at beginning, installing a new mailbox post is easy plenty to go done in an afternoon. Programme out the location of your mailbox, use a post digger, and make sure your mail service is level. You'll be able to get your mailbox post gear up upward perfectly in no time.

1
Contact an good to locate your utilities. If you're earthworks effectually in your yard, at that place's a take a chance that yous'll striking h2o pipes, power cables, or other important utilities. About countries volition offer a service that volition visit your property to mark the location of utilities in your one thousand. Look online for the service in your local surface area, and make sure y'all dig away from the spaces that are marked.^[i]
- If you're putting up a new mailbox post to replace one already congenital into the ground, you should be OK to put the new post in the same spot equally the onetime one. If you want to movement it, you should go your utilities marked out.
- Make sure that you don't hit any lines running under your yard that aren't utilities, such every bit pipes running to sprinklers or wires leading to yard lights. These likely won't show up with a local service.
- In the United states, you can call 811 to go your utilities marked out for free within 2 days. One time they are marked, you will have 10 days to install your mailbox post in a safety area.
- The Britain has a service called Linesearch Before U Dig that volition mark out the placement of utilities for gratuitous, contacted through their website: https://www.linesearchbeforeudig.co.uk/
2
Check your local regulations for mailboxes. The postal service in your country or your local homeowner'due south association may have regulations on the summit and distance from the adjourn at which your mailbox has to sit down. Look online to find any regulations in your expanse, and brand certain you accommodate to them when marking the placement of your mailbox post.^[2]
- The USPS requires that the opening of your postbox exist 6 to viii inches (15 to twenty cm) away from the curb, and 41 to 45 inches (100 to 110 cm) above the surface of the road. Make sure that you lot factor in the size of the mailbox when installing your mailbox post.
- If you're unsure nearly the regulations in your area, take a look at the top and placement of your neighbour'southward mailboxes for a adept guide on what yours should look similar.
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3
Remove the old mailbox postal service. If you have an old mailbox post you want to replace, you'll need to remove information technology before you lot can put in a new one. Utilise a shovel to dig upwards the ground effectually the former post and elevator it directly up and out of the ground. If it'south also hard to elevator, utilize some scrap pieces of wood to make a lever that will help pry it complimentary.^[3]
- If the hole left backside from your old post is in the aforementioned location you want to install the new one, you should be able to reuse the aforementioned hole. Otherwise, fill it in and dig a new hole in a different location.
four
Mark the location where your post will be installed. Make certain that the location yous choose is hands attainable from your house, won't come in contact with any utilities, and fits with your local requirements. It may take a footling trial and error, only you should exist able to find a location that works perfectly. Make a small cross on the ground with spray paint to marker the location.^[4]
- If you lot're installing a new mailbox to replace an old ane, you shouldn't need to mark or dig a new location.
five
Use a post digger to dig a pigsty around xx inches (51 cm) deep. A post digger is a tool designed for digging pocket-size nevertheless deep holes that should be available at your local hardware store. Utilise the post digger to dig a hole in the location y'all have marked, excavation until the hole is at least twenty inches (51 cm) deep.^[5]
- Throw the dirt y'all dig out of the pigsty onto a tarp or something like. This volition get in easier to clean up once you've finished installing your mailbox post.
- Check the depth of the hole with a tape mensurate as yous dig it.
- If you don't desire to buy a post digger, y'all may be able to rent one from your local hardware store for a short period of time.
vi
Add approximately 4 to half-dozen inches (10 to 15 cm) of gravel to the pigsty. Gravel, pocket-sized stones, or something similar volition assistance with providing proper drainage to the lesser of the hole. Pour enough into the bottom of your hole so that it comes upward effectually four inches (ten cm), leaving you lot with a 16 in (41 cm) deep hole.^[6]
- Gravel should be available in large bags from your local hardware store or nursery. You'll need roughly 10 to thirty pounds (4.5 to 13.6 kg) of gravel, depending on the size of your hole and the density of the gravel.
- Check the depth of the hole again one time you've added your gravel, to make sure you lot will still comply with the requirements for mailboxes in your area.
- If in that location's gravel in the pigsty from an old mailbox post you lot've removed, yous shouldn't need to add anymore gravel as long as it is deep enough and sets your post at the right summit.
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one
Place the post in the pigsty and check its height. Elevator your mailbox post up and drib it into the pigsty so that it sits against the gravel. Utilise a tape measure to check that information technology is sitting at the right top to a higher place the adjourn, adding or removing gravel to suit it every bit necessary.^[vii]
- Mailbox posts and mailboxes can be bought from your local hardware store, which should exist built with around 20 inches (51 cm) extra length at the base to sit in the pigsty.
- You lot can brand your own mailbox post past cutting a 4 by 4 in (ten by 10 cm) slice of forest to size. It should be effectually 65 inches (170 cm) in length, with the cut cease sitting in the hole.
- Brand certain your called mailbox postal service is weather-treated so that information technology won't rot or disintegrate in the elements. Either purchase waterproof wood, or waterproof the wood yourself.
2
Pour physical powder into the hole, leaving 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) of space at the top. Keeping the mailbox post as level every bit you tin, begin pouring the dry physical pulverization into the hole. Space information technology evenly around the post, then that the mail service remains in the eye of the pigsty. Leave 4 to 5 inches (10 to xiii cm) of infinite at the tiptop to encompass with soil. Check that your post is level with a bubble level, and make any terminal adjustments before moving on.^[8]
- Dry out concrete powder should be available at your local hardware store.You'll need roughly 50 pounds (23 kg), depending on the size and depth of your hole.
- The space left at the top of the mail can be covered with soil, which volition prevent concrete from showing at the base of your mailbox postal service.
- Get someone else to hold the post in place while yous cascade the concrete over it.
- Agree the bubble level on each face of the post and check that the bubble is in the heart of the level before proceeding.
3
Cover the concrete with water. Water volition catechumen your concrete powder to concrete, which will go along your mailbox post in place for years to come. Check the manufacturer's instructions on the back of your cement powder to discover out how much water is needed, and pour it evenly over the concrete powder.^[ix]
- This is the terminal chance you'll have to suit your mailbox post before information technology is cemented into the ground. Use a level on all sides of the post to make sure information technology is even.
4
Leave the physical to set for 4 to 6 hours. The concrete powder will begin drawing water into it and setting up, which volition have several hours. Brand certain the post is steady and secure, and that information technology won't be disturbed for at least a solar day before leaving information technology to set. This tin can take effectually half-dozen hours or upwards to a day depending on the concrete pulverization y'all take.^[10]
- For extra stability, use a few pieces of backlog timber leaning on each side of the mail to hold it steady while the concrete dries.
- It may assistance the leave a sign on the post while y'all leave it to set up in place so that people avert it, reducing the take chances for it to be knocked off centre as information technology dries. Y'all may also demand to contact your post carrier to make sure they don't disturb it.
- Check the manufacturer's instructions for your concrete pulverization for a recommended amount of fourth dimension to get out your physical to dry.
five
Fill the pigsty with dirt and adhere your mailbox. Once the physical has been given plenty of fourth dimension to set, cover the physical up with dirt and flatten information technology so that information technology sits evenly with the remainder of the ground. Utilize a mounting bracket and screws to attach your mailbox to the tiptop of the postal service.^[xi]
- Check that your mailbox is able to open comfortably before screwing it in identify.
- Mailboxes and mailbox kits should be available at your local hardware store. Some of them may even come up with a mailbox post ready to install.
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Try and schedule the project for a day when you won't exist getting any mail. That way, you'll have enough of time to get a new mailbox mail and mailbox installed earlier it needs to be used.

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Always wear the proper prophylactic equipment when digging holes, cutting woods, or using concrete. Safety goggles, gloves, and a ventilator mask will all help reduce the adventure of injury.
Check the local regulations and requirements before installing a mailbox post. Some places may require a permit before y'all can install i.

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Things You'll Need

Mailbox mail or a 4 by 4 in (10 by 10 cm) piece of wood
Measuring record
Mail service digger
Level
Concrete powder
H2o

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Article Summary Ten

To install a mailbox post, you'll need to dig a hole and secure your mail service with cement. Before you outset digging, contact an adept to locate your utilities so you don't accidentally striking a water pipe or power cable. In the Us, you can phone call 811 to get yours marked for complimentary. You should also check your local mailbox regulations. For example, the USPS requires your postbox to be 6 to 8 inches from the curb and 41 to 45 inches high. Once you've made your checks, use a mail digger to dig a 20-inch deep hole. Fill the lesser v inches with gravel. Then, place your post in the hole and pour concrete pulverisation around it, leaving 5 inches of infinite at the top. Cover the concrete with water, which will make it set. Finally, fill the pigsty with dirt and flatten it and so information technology blends in with the footing. For more tips, including how to remove an former mailbox post, read on!

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